845.255.8222

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus can be more easily managed through a number of proactive steps that one can
take involving proper diet, exercise, lifestyle considerations, and specific
nutrients. This is particularly true of adult
onset, or type 2 diabetes.

Recommendations

Type 2 diabetes responds well to natural therapies.Lifestyle Changes

Weight loss: Being overweight increases the need for
insulin and can even make healthy people pre-diabetic (weight loss
reverses this problem).

Exercise: Exercise helps decrease body fat
and improves insulin sensitivity. Therefore, diabetics should
never begin an exercise program without consulting a healthcare professional.

Alcohol: Moderate drinking by
healthy people improves glucose tolerance. However, alcohol has been reported to
worsen glucose tolerance in the elderly and in diabetics. People with
diabetes should limit alcohol intake to two drinks per day.

Quit smoking: Diabetics who
smoke are at higher risk for diabetes-linked problems. Smokers are more
likely to become diabetic than are non-smokers.

Diet

Note: All people with diabetes should seek medical advice before they make any dietary changes.

Carbohydrates: Eating carbohydrate-containing foods,
whether high in sugar or high in starch such as bread, potatoes, pasta, processed breakfast cereals and
rice temporarily raises blood sugar and insulin levels. People eating large amounts of foods with high
glycemic indices have
been reported to be at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Sweet drinks It has been widely recognized that if sugary drinks were eliminated
the incidence of many conditions,
including diabetes, would decrease markedly.

Fiber
Although the research is inconclusive, most doctors advise people with diabetes to eat
a diet high in fiber. Focus should be on fruits, vegetables, seeds, oats and whole-grain products.
Note: Diabetics with unrecognized kidney failure could develop
serious complications from a high-fiber (and therefore high-potassium) diet.

Vegetarian diet: Vegetarians are reported to have a
low risk of type 2 diabetes.

Protein: Switching to a high-
or low-protein diet should be discussed with a doctor.

Fat: Diets high in fat, especially saturated fat
worsen glucose tolerance and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. In contrast, glucose intolerance
has been improved by diets high in monounsaturated fats such as those containing olive oil.
However, people who are overweight need to be careful.

Children & milk
Most studies indicate that children with type 1 diabetes drink cow's
milk at an earlier age than other children; one hypothesis is that antibodies weaken insulin producing capacity of pancreas.

Onion: Preliminary trials and at
least one double-blind trial have shown that large amounts of onion can
lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

People with diabetes mellitus cannot properly process glucose, a sugar the body uses for energy. As a result, glucose stays in the blood, causing blood glucose levels to rise. At the same time, however, the cells of the body can be starved for glucose. Diabetes can lead to poor wound healing, higher risk of infections, and many other problems involving the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.

A pre-diabetic condition is one in which blood glucose levels are not high enough to warrant a diagnosis of diabetes. It has been found that even though diabetes doesn't yet technically exist, long-term adverse changes are occurring to the circulatory system and heart.

Adult-Onset Diabetes
Adult-onset diabetes is also called type 2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
With type 2, the pancreas often makes enough insulin, but the body has trouble using the insulin.
Type 2 often responds well to natural therapies.

Childhood-Onset Diabetes
Childhood-onset diabetes is also called type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas cannot make the insulin needed to process glucose. Natural
therapies cannot cure type 1, but may help by making the body more receptive to insulin
supplied by injection. It is critical for people with type 1 diabetes to work carefully
with the doctor prescribing insulin before making any lifestyle or dietary changes mentioned in this section.

Symptoms

Symptoms of diabetes can develop suddenly (over days or weeks) in previously healthy children or adolescents, or can develop gradually (over several years) in overweight adults over the age of 40.

Ketoacidosis is a condition due to starvation or uncontrolled
diabetes, and is common in type 1 diabetes. Ketones are acid compounds
which form in the blood when the body breaks down fats and proteins.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, rapid breathing, extreme
tiredness and drowsiness. Patients with ketoacidosis will also have a
sweet breath odor. Left untreated, this condition can lead to coma and
death.

With type 2 diabetes, the condition may not become evident until the patient presents
for medical treatment for some other condition. A patient may have heart disease, chronic
infections of the gums or urinary tract, blurred vision, numbness in the feet and legs,
or slow-healing wounds. Women may experience genital itching.

Causes of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus may arise from both hereditary and environmental factors.
It has been established that some patients with diabetes have common genetic markers.

Type I Diabetes

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system may be triggered by a virus or another microorganism
that makes it attack the pancreas beta cells which produce insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes

Age, family history and obesity play a role in type 2 diabetes.

Although in this type of diabetes the pancreas may produce enough insulin, resistance may have
developed and the insulin is not as effective. type 2 diabetes symptoms can start very gradually
and go unnoticed. Early indicators can include extreme thirst, tiredness and frequent urination. In addition, symptoms may include slow wound healing, sudden weight loss, urinary tract infections, blurred vision or gum disease. Such patients may discover the diabetes when they visit their doctor for other conditions.

Individuals who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus include people who:

Have a relative with diabetes mellitus

Are overweight (more than 20% above their ideal body weight)

Belong to a high risk ethnic population (African-American, Native American,
Hispanic, or Native Hawaiian)

Have delivered a baby
weighing more than 9 lbs or have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Have had impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose on previous
testing.

Have high blood pressure (140/90 mmHg or above)

Have a high density lipoprotein cholesterol level less than or equal to 35 mg/dL
and/or a triglyceride level greater than or equal to 250 mg/dL

Medications Impairment

A number of medications can damage the body's ability to use insulin causing secondary diabetes. These medications include treatments for high blood pressure, drugs with hormonal activity (oral contraceptives, thyroid hormone, progestin, and glucocorticoids), and the anti-inflammation drug indomethacin. Several drugs that are used to treat mood disorders (such as anxiety and depression) can also impair glucose absorption. There are other medications that can cause diabetes symptoms as well.

Conventional Treatment

Type 1 diabetes is usually treated with a combination of diet and insulin.

For type 2 diabetes, proper diet and medication, often taken orally, is prescribed.

Dietary changes that may be helpful

Note: All people with diabetes should seek medical advice before
they make any dietary changes.

Carbohydrates: Eating carbohydrate-containing foods, whether high in sugar or high in starch such as bread, potatoes, pasta, processed breakfast cereals and rice temporarily raises blood sugar and insulin levels. The blood sugar-raising effect of a food, called its "glycemic index," depends on how rapidly its carbohydrate contents are absorbed and converted to sugar. People eating large amounts of foods with high glycemic indices have been reported to be at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

However, diets high in total carbohydrates do not necessarily increase
the risk of type 2 diabetes and some studies have found no independent
relationship between sugar intake and the development of glucose
intolerance.

Most doctors recommend that diabetics reduce their intake of sugar from
snacks and processed foods, and replace these foods with high-fiber,
whole foods. more details ...

Sweet drinks It has been widely recognized that if sugary drinks were eliminated
the incidence of many conditions,
including diabetes, would decrease markedly. Many diabetics have already been told by their doctors that fresh fruit
is preferred to fruit juices - since the high level of fructose in fruit juices raises blood sugar.
A study of nearly 7,000 people found that diet soda consumption also significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.9

Fiber High-fiber supplements such as psyllium, guar gum (found in beans), pectin (from fruit), oat bran and glucomannan (from Amorphophallus konjac) have improved glucose tolerance in some studies. Good results have also been reported with 1-3 ounces of powdered fenugreek seeds per day. Although the research is inconclusive, most doctors advise people with diabetes to eat a diet high in fiber. Focus should be on fruits, vegetables, seeds, oats and whole-grain products.

Vegetarian diet: Vegetarians are reported to have a low risk of type 2 diabetes. People with diabetic nerve damage who switch to a vegan diet (no meat, dairy or eggs) have reported improvement after several days. Fats from meat and dairy may also promote heart disease, the leading killer of people with diabetes.

Fat: Diets high in fat, especially saturated fat worsen
glucose tolerance and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Saturated fat is found primarily in meat,
dairy fat, poultry skins and dark meat. In contrast, glucose intolerance has been improved by diets high in monounsaturated fats such as those containing olive oil. However, people who are overweight need to be careful. For example, olive oil is high in calories. Avoid vegetable oil for both cooking and salad dressing and fried food. Most commercial salad dressings should be avoided for their high sugar content and poor quality oils.

Children & milk
Most studies indicate that children with type 1 diabetes drink cow's
milk at an earlier age than do other children. Some children who drink
cow's milk produce antibodies to the milk; it has been hypothesized
that these antibodies can cross-react with and damage the
insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. more detail.

Key nutritional supplements

Alpha lipoic acid (600 mg, one to
three times per day): This powerful natural antioxidant has been shown
to improve diabetic neuropathy and to improve insulin sensitivity.

Chromium (200-1,000 mcg per day): Chromium has been shown to
improve glucose tolerance in people with both type 2 and type 1
diabetes, apparently by increasing sensitivity to insulin.

Evening primrose oil (EPO) (4 grams per day for six months):
EPO has been found in double-blind research to improve nerve function
and relieve pain symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Glucomannan: For controlling the
elevation of
blood sugar, 500-700 mg of glucomannan per 100 calories in the diet has
been used successfully in controlled research.

Turmeric Double-blind research demonstrates that curcumin
extract (turmeric) is very effective in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Magnesium (300-1,000 mg per day):
Diabetes patients tend to have low magnesium levels. Double-blind
research indicates that supplementing with magnesium overcomes this
problem. Magnesium supplementation may also help improve insulin
production in elderly people with type 2 diabetes.

Other herbs that may be helpful

American ginseng (Panax
quinquefolius): 3 grams of American ginseng was found to lower the rise
in blood sugar when given up to 40 minutes before the consumption of a drink high in glucose by persons with type 2 diabetes.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)
leaf (for control of blood sugar) or berry (for capillary fragility): An herbal extract of the berry in capsules or tablets standardized to
provide 25% anthocyanosides can be taken in the amount of 240-600 mg per day.

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia): One small melon can be eaten, or up to 100 ml of a decoction or 2 ounces of fresh juice can be drunk per day. Tinctures of bitter melon (5 ml two to three times per day) can also be used.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may be helpful. Although preliminary trials indicate that acupuncture can lower
blood sugar1, 2, 3 and improve production of insulin4 in patients
with type 2 diabetes, trials on long-term effects have not been concluded. (There has been a long-term study
of the use of acupuncture to treat peripheral diabetic neuropathy.8 In a preliminary trial, 77% of people suffering from diabetic neuropathy
experienced significant reduction in pain following up to six acupuncture treatments over a ten-week period. Many were also able to
reduce pain medications, but no long-term change in blood-sugar control was observed.5Bladder control problems, a complication of long-term diabetes, responded to acupuncture treatment with a
significant reduction in symptoms in both controlled6 and uncontrolled7 trials.

Discussion: Lifestyle

Weight Loss

Most people with type 2 diabetes are obese or overweight. Excess abdominal weight makes the body less
sensitive to insulin. Excess weight makes the body less sensitive to insulin, increases the need for insulin
and can even make healthy people pre-diabetic.
Losing weight reverses
this situation. In most studies, type 2 diabetes has improved with weight loss.

Increased weight gain in infancy makes individuals one and a half times as likely to develop type 1 diabetes in childhood. Being overweight also
increases the need for insulin. Therefore, people with type 1 diabetes should achieve and maintain appropriate body weight.

Exercise

Exercise helps decrease body fat and improve insulin sensitivity - but neither exercise alone or diet alone will cause weight loss. Both must be part of one's
daily habit. Those who are sedentary are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and type 1 diabetes who are sedentary require more insulin.

When we exercise our body is better able to maintain a proper blood glucose level. Patients who have type 1 diabetes who exercise
require less insulin than those who are sedentary, even though exercise can sometimes contribute to decreased or increased blood sugar
depending on circumstance. One study shows that long-term physical activity by type 1 diabetics did not control blood glucose. Therefore, diabetics
shouldn't start a new vigorous exercise regime without checking with their doctor. Nonetheless, because moderate exercise significantly reduces the risk of
type 2 diabetes and is a prime risk-lowerer for so many other conditions, we recommend exercise - such as a brisk walk - every day.

Alcohol Consumption

Moderate drinking in healthy people improves tolerance of glucose. However, drinking had the opposite
effect in the elderly and in people with diabetes in some studies.
People with diabetes who drink have also been reported to have a high risk for eye and nerve damage.

Smoking

People with diabetes who smoke are at higher risk for kidney damage, cardiovascular disease and other diabetes-linked problems. Smokers are also more likely to develop diabetes. Therefore, it is important to quit smoking.

Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose

Most medical providers concur that self-monitoring of blood glucose
is a good idea for people with type 1 diabetes, but there is disagreement as to whether this
is effective or necessary for those with type 2.

Advocates observe that self-monitoring has revolutionized management of type 2 diabetes,
allowing patients to maintain goals. These observations are well-supported in the medical literature.

Detractors point out that the value of indiscriminate use of self-monitoring is questionable
and adds to medical costs because it is dependent on the accuracy of the instruments and the technique
of the user giving rise to inaccurate results. Nonetheless, it is reasonable that self-monitoring of
blood glucose, used properly, can
have a helpful effect by increasing patient involvement in overall diabetes care. Pharmacists
and medical practitioners can teach patients with diabetes skills that will assist
their ability to correctly self-manage blood glucose.